Bentley Continental R.

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bentley
2000 Bentley Continental R.jpg
Continental R
Azure
Production period: 1991-2002
Class : Upper class
Body versions : Coupé , convertible
Engines: Petrol engines :
6.75 liters
(286–313 kW)
Length: 5222-5340 mm
Width: 1870-1954 mm
Height: 1460-1462 mm
Wheelbase : 2960-3060 mm
Empty weight : 2422-2600 kg
Previous model Bentley Corniche
successor Bentley Brooklands
Bentley Azure

The Bentley Continental R was a large, very expensive Bentley luxury coupe that was manufactured between 1991 and 2002. It was the first Bentley since the R-Type that was not based on an identical Rolls-Royce . In addition, it was the fastest, most powerful, but also most expensive Bentley of its time. The convertible version, the Bentley Azure , was introduced in 1995. In the course of the production time, several versions of the Continental were created, which differed from each other mainly in the engine. In the Le Mans Edition, the Continental R developed 313 kW (426 hp). This corresponds to the Continental T.

Model name

With the term Continental, Bentley took up a model designation that was used in the 1950s and 1960s for sporty and particularly expensive modifications of the production models. The Bentley R-Type Continental from 1952 and its successors S1 Continental (1955–1959), S2 Continental (1959–1962) and S3 Continental (1962–1966), each of which was equipped with individual bodies from renowned body manufacturers , were among the most expensive and most exclusive vehicles of their time. The Continental R should build on this tradition.

Model history

The origins of the Bentley Continental R go back to 1985 and are related to a process that would lead to the revival of the Bentley brand. Since the introduction of the Model T, Bentley had become a mere appendage of the Rolls-Royce brand and led a shadowy existence. With the Mulsanne Turbo from 1982, the company management began to give the Bentley brand an independent image again. In order to drive this development forward, the brand managers Mike Dunn and Peter Ward demanded an “independent design quality” for Bentleys. That meant that Bentley should no longer offer mere modifications of Rolls-Royce designs. The first starting point was a coupé study called Project 90 , which had been developed by British designers John Heffernan and Ken Greenley. The Project 90 was a two-seater notchback coupé with aerodynamically rounded lines, the shape of which was reminiscent of the American Lincoln Mark VII . After the study was positively received at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show , the decision was made to go into series production. Development began in 1986 after production of the Rolls-Royce Camargue had ceased. The design was further developed over time, but the basic layout was retained. The developers derived the technical components from the conventional Rolls-Royce designs, but refined them in some details. Series production of the Continental R began in the spring of 1991 after five years of development.

Versions

Continental R

Bentley Continental R.

The basic version of the Continental R was with 6.75 liter eight-cylinder turbo engine from the Bentley Turbo R equipped. The engine output was estimated at 239 kW (325 hp). As of September 14, 1999, the base price of the Continental R was 569,000 DM or 290,925.08 euros.

Continental S

The Bentley Continental S was a special version of the coupé, which was also equipped with a charge air cooler . This increased the engine output to around 283 kW (385 hp). From 1994 to 1995, 30 copies of this version were made; after that, the intercooler was also available in the regular Continental R.

Continental T

Bentley Continental T

The Bentley Continental T was the sportiest version of the model family. It was equipped with a 313 kW (426 hp) version of the turbo engine. The torque amounted to 800 Nm or 875 Nm (from 1997) at 2200 min -1 . The car had a wheelbase that was 10 cm shorter, so that it was no longer registered as a four-seater, but only as a 2 + 2-seater. The weight of the car has been reduced by 91 kg compared to the production version. In addition, the chassis was set to be harder. Based on the pre-war Bentley used in racing, the instrument panel was clad with polished aluminum instead of wood, as were the trim strips on the upper edges of the doors. Perforated pedals and the red starter button on the instrument panel also conjured up associations with racing. In the 2000 model year, Bentley called for the Continental T 641,900 DM (328,198.26 euros), for the identically motorized, but more individually equipped Continental T Mulliner even 672,330 DM (343,756.87 euros) were due.

Continental R Mulliner

The Continental Mulliner presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999 combined the regular, i. H. Not shortened body of the Continental R with the powerful engine of the Continental T. The name of the car was reminiscent of the former body manufacturer H. J. Mulliner , which was taken over by Rolls-Royce in 1959. Other special designs were derived from this version, including the Continental Le Mans, the Continental R420 and the Continental Millenium, each of which was only produced in very small numbers. A total of 194 Continental R vehicles were built with the 313 kW (426 hp) engine of the T version. The price in the 2000 model year was 624,000 Deutschmarks, which corresponds to EUR 319,046.13.

Continental SC Sedanca

The Continental SC Sedanca (or Sedanca Coupé), built from 1998 on the body of the T, had a removable glass roof over the two front seats. The roof over the rear seats, however, was firm. According to its own information, Bentley planned from the outset to produce only 80 copies of this vehicle, which cost 690,000 D-Mark (352,791.40 euros) in 1998, and only 79 were actually produced (73 Continental SC, 6 Continental SC Mulliner). Nevertheless, the production cessation of the type, which was also the first newly introduced Bentley after the takeover by Volkswagen, was justified in 2000 with the need for production capacities for the more successful Azure or its sister model Rolls-Royce Corniche. At the same time, when the Continental T was in production until 2002, it was possible to have a Continental SC manufactured alongside the series if the customer requested it accordingly. As with the Continental R, there was also a Mulliner version of the SC, which had the 875 Nm strong engine of the Continental T and a cost price of 724,800 DM (370,584.36 euros), making it the most expensive production Bentley of all time was. Despite the excellent workmanship, the car is not considered to be "waterproof" because of the less torsion-resistant body in comparison to the Continental T in combination with the removable roof halves. The joke circulates among owners that SC stands for “Soggy Carpets”; in German: 'wet carpets'. Former US boxer Mike Tyson is considered one of the most prominent owners of a Continental SC.

Bentley Azure

The convertible version is called Azure

The production of the large coupés was stopped in 2002, the Bentley Azure remained in production until 2003. After that, production of the convertible was also discontinued despite demand, as all capacities were required in the Crewe plant for the further development of the smaller Continental family. In addition, new crash regulations have made it more difficult to continue production. It was not until 2006 that a successor to the Bentley Azure based on the Arnage appeared parallel to the Bentley Continental GTC . The specifications of the "new" Azure year of construction in 2006 agreed with those of the Arnage R match. (335 kW, 875 Nm). In addition, u. a. Solid reinforcements made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic are built into the floor of the car , which significantly reduce the amount of torsion in the body compared to its predecessor. The price list for model year 2000 shows a base price of 630,000 D-Marks (322,113.89 euros) for the Azure, the Azure Mulliner required a willingness to invest of 676,485 DM (345,881.29 euros).

gallery

  • The basic version: Bentley Continental R

  • Bentley Continental R420 Mulliner

  • Bentley Continental R Mulliner

  • Bentley Continental SC Sedanca

Technical specifications

Bentley Continental R / Azure Continental S Continental T
Motor type Gasoline engine
Working method Four stroke
Engine type 8-cylinder V-engine
Motor fork angle 90 °
Motor mounting position front lengthways
Displacement 6750 cc
Bore × stroke 104.14 mm x 99.06 mm
Max. Power at 1 / min approx. 265 kW (360 PS)
at 4200		 approx. 300 kW (408 hp)
at 4100		 approx. 313 kW (420 hp)
at 4000
Max. Torque at 1 / min approx. 750 Nm at 2000 approx. 800 Nm at 2000 approx. 875 Nm at 2100
compression 8.0: 1
Engine charging turbocharger
Mixture preparation Electronic injection
Valve control Central camshaft
Camshaft drive Gears
cooling Water cooling
Drive type Rear wheel drive
transmission GM Hydramatic 4-speed automatic
Front suspension Triangle wishbone axle, coil springs
Rear suspension Semi-trailing arm axle, coil springs, level control
Brakes Disc brakes all around, internally ventilated at the front, servo, ABS
Brake diameter in front 28 cm
steering Rack and pinion steering, servo
body Sheet steel, self-supporting
Front track 1550 mm
Rear track 1550 mm
wheelbase 3060 mm 2960 mm
Dimensions 5340 mm × 1870 mm × 1460 mm 5222 mm × 1954 mm × 1462 mm
Empty weight 2450 kg (1)
2600 kg (2) 		2450 kg 2450 kg
Top speed 245 km / h > 250 km / h 280 km / h
0-100 km / h 6.5 s 6.1 s 5.8 s
Consumption (l / 100 km, standard consumption city) 25.6 S 28.1 p
price DM 505,885 (3)
DM 512,037 (4)
(1) Continental R
(2) Azure
(3) valid for Continental R, 1995
(4) valid for Azure, 1995

swell

  • Automobil Revue , catalog number 1995 (dates and prices)
  • www.carfolio.com (data Continental T)

Web links

Commons : Bentley Continental R  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Auto Catalog No. 22 (1978/1979), p. 98.
  2. ↑ On the whole: Wood: Rolls-Royce and Bentley, pp. 140 ff.
  3. ↑ http://www.rrab.com/bcontscd.htm